Folding clothesbasket carrier



Feb. 22, 1949. W. F, MEYER l 2,462,214

FOLDING CLOTHESBASKET CARRIER Filed May 3, 1944 -I 7/2/1 4l-D 2 30 A B 120a zo?) Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED N oFFlc'zr.y

FOLDING CLOTHESBASKET kCARRIER William F. Meyer, Chicago, Ill., assgnor to Frieda H. Meyer, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 3, 1944, Serial No. 534,007

My invention relates generally-to an improvement in carriers for clothes baskets and the like and has for one purpose to provide a structure which shall be simple, cheap to manufacture, easy to operate, and strong.

Another purpose is to provide improved limit and locking means for locking a folding clothes basket carrier in basket receiving position.

. Another purpose is to provide a simplified Jclothes basket support in which a minimum of parts are employed. Other purposes'will appear from time to time in the course of the specication and claims.

I illustrate the invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is an end elevation;

Figure 3 is a plan view;`

Figure 4 is a side elevation in folded position;

Figure 5 is a detail section of one of the Wheels;

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of a modified form of locking means;

Figure 7 is a plan View of parts shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a detail section along the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings. Referring to the drawings, the structure as a whole includes two frames A and B. Considering rst the outer frame A, it includes parallel side elements I and 2 connected by the top element 3. If the parts are made of strap metal a, single unitary structure may be employed, for example bent from sheet metal. The second frame B includes corresponding parallel sides 4, 5 and 2 claims. (c1. 24S- 129) The other wheels are positioned onv the shaft `lia inside the frame side members 4 and 5 and are held from endwisemovement by the washers or abutments Ella secured to the shaft IIa. The v outer ends of the Shaft Ha are. headed as at IIb. rThe two frames are supported in opposition by a combined basket support and tensional locking or limit member. This member is shown as including two main components, a rectangular frame 2l pivoted between the side arms 4 and 5 of the frame B and including two parallel' side members 22 andtwo parallel end members 23 and 23a. Each of the side members 22, shown as secured to the frame B is connected to it by rivets 24, 24 which permit its rotation but hold it suinciently rmly so that it can constitute an additional reinforcement for the frame. The opposite component of the hinge member includes the single transverse element 25 and the parallel side elements 26 which are riveted or otherwise rotatably secured by the members 21 to the parallel side elements I, 2 of the frame A. The side elements 26 are pivoted as at 29 to the side members of the first components and are 25 further longitudinally extended as at 30. These a top connecting member 6. The members 4 and 5 are shown as extending between the members I, 2 and pivoted together as at 1, 8. The pivot relationship may be maintained by a single headed bolt or rivet 9 with a washer I8. Each of the frames has at the lower ends of the parallel side members, a connecting element or brace II which is also adapted to serve as an axle for the wheels I2. Each wheel, as shown in Figure 5 is formed of two cups I3, I4 expanded at their outer edges as at I5, I6. One of the expanded portions is lapped around the other as at Il, the two expanded portions forming in eiect a tire.

The frame side members I and 2 may be spaced apart by washers or abutments 2U secured to the shaft Il. The wheels I2 are positioned outside of side members I and 2 and held by washer 23a and nut 20h.

longitudinal extensions terminate in inwardly extending offset iingers or lugs 3| which penetratenotches 32 in the upper edges of the members 22. When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1, the inter-engagement of the fingers and notches provide a firm structure which not merely braces the carrier as a whole, but provides a firm support for a laundry basket or any other member desired to be supported.

However, when the basket has been removed, all

that the user has to do t-o fold the device is to lift up onA the center member 23 of the first component.

With reference to Figure 6 a slightly different securing means is employed. Instead of the fingers 3l, receiving lugs 33 are formed on the side elements 22.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown an operative device nevertheless many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Also a wide variety of means for interconnecting the frames or the relatively pivoted members 22 and 26 may be employed including for example independent latching means mounted on one or the other of the members 26 and 22 and movable or slidable into interlocking relationship with the opposite member.

I claim:

1. In a carrier for laundry baskets and the like, a pair of main frames each including a top cross member and a pair of side members, said side members being pivoted to each other intermediate their ends, and a combined basket sup- `port and reinforcement including a closed rigid ends of the second cross bar of the latter, said interconnected subirames constituting, when-Ain a substantially horizontal basket supporting 'posin tion, a four sided, rectangular, centrally reinforced brace member, pivotally secured lateach of its corners to one of said side members.

:2. In a carrier for laundry baskets and the like, a pair of main frames each including a top cross member anda pair of side members, said side members being pivoted to each other intermediate their ends, `and a combined basket support and 0 -'reinforcementincluding a. closed rigid four-sided" rectangular strap vmetal sub frame, comprising side bars and cross bars, means pivotally connecting the side bars of said sub frame adjacent to opposite ends of one cross bar thereof to and between one pair of said side members, and a rigid substantially U-shaped strap metal sub frame, means pivotally connecting said U- shaped frame adjacent the yoke portion thereof to and between the other pair of said side members, pivot means pivotallyconnecting said U- shaped sub frame adjacent the free ends thereof, to the rectangular sub frame adjacent to the opposite ends of the second cross bar of the latter, and the free `ends of said U-shaped sub frame having rigid interconnection with the side bars `of said rectangular sub frame when said sub frames are insubstantially aligned horizontal basket supporting position, to constitute a rigid four sided, rectangular, centrally reinforced platform member, pivotally secured at each of its corners to one of said side members.

\ -WILLIAM F. MEYER..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name VDate 1,692,704 Rohrig Nov. 20, 1928 2,052,803 Schmoller SeptQl, 193,6 2,241,799 Welsh May 13, 1941 

